The Washington critic., 1887-02-22


Ghost or no ghost, Id as soon have
your, room as your company this min'
ute"
The figure made step toward the
door, and at the same moment the face
assumed an inexpressively pleading
look, while lovely hand beckoned
Peter in an appealing fashion to follow.
Naturally enough, Peter was slow to
accept this dubious invitation, and the
figure took another step to the door,
making n still more irresistible appeal
with hand and eyes.
Where do you want me to go, and
what do you want me TO do p cried
the watchman, who felt drawn by an
overwhelming impulse to follow the ap
partition, although his reason counselled
him TO refuse.
A faint, low voice replied-"Comcl"
in tone of such overmastering tender.
ness, that poor Peter could no longer
resist.
60 on" he cried, "whe,her you
come from above or below. | cant re.
sist you I'll follow as long as I know
where you lead me-
A look of intense relief spread over
the beautiful face as the figure glided
TO the door and disappeared. Peter ran
and threw the portal open, and in the
gloom he saw, by n sort of supernatural
glow, the figure in front, still beckoniug
and advancing toward the bridge.
Peter boldly followed until the appari
tion stood at the foot of the rough scaf.
fold, from which still depended the re.
mains of the young lnsurgcnt. Point
ing toward the body, the ghostly guide,
in the same unutterably tender voice,
said Help him !" and instantly disap.
peared. Peter looked round in every
direction, and began to think he had
been dreaming, when suddenly he
thought he heard from the supposed
corpse faint moan.
by Heavens" said Peter, "the
mans alivel" and acting on the sud.
den impulse, he sprang on the scalrold,
caught hold of the rope, and casting off
the fastening, lowered down the body,
which fell in a heap at his feet. Peter
drew the Iusurgent into sitting pos.
ture, placing his back against the para.
pet, and pulling out his rum flask, he
forced few drops into the mouth. He
was rewarded by convulsive move.
ment, which showed that life was In
reality not departed. Another appli-
cation of the rum bottle was attended
with still more unequivocal symptoms
of resuscitation; and, In ~ very short
time, Peter had the qualification of
hearing his patient say in weak and
husky voice:
Thank God! you were just in time
another minute and was gonel'
"llow did you escape at all!" asked
Peter.
I'm their hurry they left the rope
| too long" replied the Insurgent, "and
l was just able to touch the top of the
wall with my toes, so that | managed
to support myself and keep the moose
from tightening on my neck. ] held
| on as long as i could, but | was dead
beat; and II you had not come, in
another moment must have given in
and fallen forward, when all would
have been over"
care you able to walk?" asked the
watchman.
With much evident pain and dllll.
Guilty the lnsurgent arose, and took q
step or two.
| Eyes, / can just manage to crawl
along, and nov, If you will let me
pass, ! know where to seek for help
and shelter"
God be with you," said Peter.
Them that tried to hang you may
catch you II they can, but they will
| get no help from mt"
The Insurgent graspcd his hand, and
whispered: "Tell me your name, that
may hope sometime to show my graft.
tude for the service you have done
me"
II am Peter Doherty, at your service,
late trooper of her Majsstys --lh,
and now watchman' of this city for
want of better employment.
You will hear from me again" said
the 1nsurgent, moving with slow and
Peter seeing him disappearing In the
| gloom, returned TO the watch house
marvcling much at his extraordinary
adventure.
Needless TO say he held his peace
| about the transactions and when In the
morning light the gallows was seen to
be untenanted, and the rope flying
loosely In the breeze, 1t was conjectured
that the knot had slipped, and that the
body had fallen into the river and had
been carried off by the tide. One dead
rebel the more or less was of little ac.
count In those times, and no one
bothered themselves further about the
disappearance.
Six months afterward, as Peter was
sitting on summers evening smoking
his pipe on seat at the watch house
door, Il boy came up and said:
lis there a man here named Peter
Doherty?"
Tint that man, at your service, my
lad" replied Peter.
Here's letter for you," said the
boy, handing Peter small note
and Immediately making Off. Peter
opened the epistle, which read as fol-
lows:
cone who owes his life to Peter
Doherty would be glad to see him
again, If he calls at eight this even
ing at the house of Murtagh Bowling
in Green street Ask for George Cab
bins"
Peter, at the appointed hour pre-.
sentcd himself at Dowlng's house, and
was at once shown into back parlor,
where he was quickly joined by a tall,
handsome youth, who seized both his
hands and cried;
"Did you think had forgotten my
preservery | dared not sooner make
myself known to you. Now, however,
| am about to embark for foreign
land, and before | quit this country
forever wish you TO receive both my
own thanks and those of my dear wife,
who accompanies me. Mary" called
he, opening The door, "como here and
see the friend told you Of
Peter started violently as lady ap
peared In the doorway.
"My G-dw he cried. "'rhe ghost
herself % The lady tremblGd violently,
and would have fallen but that her
husband spraug to her assistance and
placed her in a chair